Page 36 - HaMizrachi Tisha B'av 5782 USA

Mizrachi

and Agudat

Yisrael:

Enemies or

Allies?

Rabbi Moshe Avigdor Amiel

One of the first rabbis to join the Mizrachi movement, Rabbi Moshe Avigdor Amiel (1882–1945) was one of the great writers and
public preachers of his time, whose oratorical skills could move even the most hardened hearts. In 1920, he was elected as one of the
delegates to represent Mizrachi of Poland at the Mizrachi World Convention in Amsterdam. He made such an impression upon the
Jewish community that he was soon appointed Rabbi of Antwerp, one of the largest and richest Jewish communities at the time.
In 1936, Rabbi Amiel made Aliyah in order to serve as Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv, the largest Jewish community in the Yishuv,
where he worked to improve relations between the religious and secular segments of the community. As Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Amiel
founded Yeshivat HaYishuv HaChadash, a yeshivah high school which combined religious and secular studies. This yeshivah,
later named in Rabbi Amiel’s memory, was used as the model for the Bnei Akiva high schools later established throughout Israel.
One of Mizrachi’s most penetrating thinkers, Rabbi Amiel was troubled by the often contentious relationship between Mizrachi
and Agudat Yisrael, founded in 1912 to strengthen Orthodox institutions in opposition to the Zionist movement and Mizrachi.
In this powerful 1934 essay, Rabbi Amiel senses the impending destruction of European Jewry and calls upon Mizrachi and
Agudat Yisrael to find common ground in a spirit of brotherhood. Though written 88 years ago, Rabbi Amiel’s essay continues
to resonate in our time.